Meditation has caught the attention of Westerners in recent years, becoming a daily routine for those in search of calmer, healthier, more productive lives. We're told it will calm us down, make us more productive, and improve our memory. It's even been said to make music sound better. But are we overcomplicating an inherently simple activity?
A recent article in The New York Times outlines the difference between the benefits we seek from meditation and its original intentions. Buddha once said:
"I teach one thing and one thing only: that is, suffering and the end of suffering."
America, on the other hand, has hailed meditation 'the new push-up for the brain'.
Meditation is appealing because it promises to undo the effects of too much Facebook, caffeine and stress. We want it to send us to sleep, keep us calm, and improve our performance at work. But just like having a five-page check-list for Mr or Mrs Right - high expectations can to lead to disappointment.
The Dalai Lama says that wellbeing can be found in one way: cultivating compassion. He celebrated his 78th birthday recently and said the best gift he could receive was for everyone to have a 'more compassionate and a genuine, selfless concern for others' wellbeing.' (MORE)
Source: Huffington Post
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